Tçnâ koe Jodie,

 

Thank you for your request for information below.  I am writing to ask you
for clarification of your request so that we can direct it to the correct
departments.  You state:

 

“We understand that Auckland City Council contractor Landscape Solutions
purchased a FoamStream machine for use as part of Auckland but that it has
not been permitted to be used as a FoamStream machine due to staff
concerns.”

 

To assist us to identify which part of Auckland Council holds a contract
with "Landscape Solutions", could you provide us with some more
information?  For example, can you tell us which department has a contract
with “Landscape Solutions” or can you tell us which supplier legal entity
you are referring to as "Landscape Solutions". 

 

You could further assist us to locate who may hold emails, reports,
analyses, memos or submissions about foam technology herbicides and
pesticides and glyphosate formulations, by telling us which department the
staff were from, who you understand expressed their concerns to “Landscape
Solutions”?

 

Please let us know by Monday 3 August so that we can direct your request
to the correct subject matter experts.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

Samantha

 

Samantha Sinclair | Senior Business Partner Privacy & LGOIMA

Democracy Services | Auckland Council

 

-----Original Message-----
From: J Bruning <[FOI #13413 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 29 July 2020 1:17 PM
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Replacement technologies to
glyphosate formulation

 

Dear Auckland Council,

 

Re: Ingredients in FoamStream formulation and glyphosate formulation.

 

Request to Auckland City Council, for information or advice shared between
parks, roadside and vegetation management, including senior management and
elected members including but not limited to the Healthy Waters department
June 2017-June 2020. This includes information or advice coming from the
Environmental Protection Authority to staff or elected members in ACC.

 

We understand that Auckland City Council contractor Landscape Solutions
purchased a FoamStream machine for use as part of Auckland but that it has
not been permitted to be used as a FoamStream machine due to staff
concerns.

 

Please can you supply emails, reports, analyses, memos or submissions:

 

1. Relating to the risk of foam technologies, such as FoamStream,
including discussion of ingredients used in the foam solution: including
sugar and plant oil.

EPA approval:
[1]https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/h...

 

2. Relating to the risk of glyphosate formulations. Including but not
limited to:

 

a). The toxicity of glyphosate (the claimed active ingredient), and the
formulation released into the environment. The glyphosate-based herbicide
formulation may commonly include oxidized petroleum distillates including
but not limited to families of polyoxyethylenamines (POEA); and quaternary
ammonium compounds.

b). The toxicity of heavy (trace) metals arsenic, chromium, cobalt, lead
and nickel as known components of glyphosate based-herbicides which are
known to be toxic and endocrine disruptors, c). Discussion of the paper by
Nicholas Defarge and colleagues: Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals
in glyphosate-based herbicides and other pesticides d). Discussion of
'cocktail effect' - additive and cumulative toxicity of other herbicide
and organosilicon mixtures commonly added to glyphosate formulations - to
which the public will be exposed -  that are added to increase toxicity
and effectiveness and combat weed resistance.

 

Supporting notes to the request:

Petrol-based and heavy metal contaminants are widely added to glyphosate
formulations, Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals in glyphosate-based
herbicides and other pesticides. Defarge et al 2018
[2]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...

 

The paper by Defarge et al observes that heavy metal levels in glyphosate
formulations exceed permitted levels in water in the European Union and
the USA and would hope that discussion of this paper is referred to.

 

We note that the NZ EPA does not require the ingredients in the
formulation to be declared.

We note that the NZ EPA has not conducted a comprehensive risk assessment
of glyphosate nor of the glyphosate formulation, and may be dependent on
other jurisdictions that similarly do not consider contamination from
co-formulants perhaps this leaves ACC in a state of ignorance.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Jodie Bruning.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[3][FOI #13413 email]

 

Is [4][Auckland Council request email] the wrong address for
Official Information requests to Auckland Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:

[5]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[6]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

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References

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1. https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/h...
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
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4. mailto:[Auckland Council request email]
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hide quoted sections

Dear Jodie,

 

Thank you for your request for information about replacement technologies
to glyphosate formulation.

 

I have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request within 20 working days of receipt of your
request.

 

If you have further questions please feel free to contact Fernanda Maciel
([email address])on09301 0101, quoting reference
8140007202

 

Kind regards

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

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reflect the views of Council.

References

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Dear Jodie,

Thank you for your request for information.  Please see attached our
response.

If you have any further queries please contact Fernanda Maciel
([1][email address]) , quoting Official
Information Request No 8140007202

Please note you have the right to request a review of this decision from
the Ombudsman.

Kind regards

Fernanda Maciel
Privacy & LGOIMA team
Democracy Services

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message in error please notify us immediately and erase all copies of the
message and attachments. We do not accept responsibility for any viruses
or similar carried with our email, or any effects our email may have on
the recipient computer system or network. Any views expressed in this
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References

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